Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Olympia is packed for the return of Ray Davies, can't remember the last time he played in Paris but it was probably more than 20 years ago.First we have a French singer on acoustic guitar, nice warm voice and good guitar player but the songs really sucked.The audience is welcoming him nicely.

Early start for Ray Davies , it's just past 8:30 PM and the show is starting very slowly with Ray seated and on acoustic guitar with a guitar player on his left.Most of the people around me know all the lyrics and Ray is having the audience singing half of the songs

all day and all night !

After 5-6 songs the band is joining in and then things are starting to be more lively and interesting.Ray's playing songs from his solo records and Kinks songs of course (see setlist for details).The atmosphere is relax and Ray is chatty.All the classics are played and for "You Really Got Me" (click for video) everyone is standing up ( it was all seated)."Till the end of the day", "Sunny Afternoon" & "Moments" ( on video)The end of the show is much more ROCK than the beginning with a great rendition of "Lola" (click for video)That's what we like.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Fnac store in St Lazare is organising a Question & Answer. People are quiet and well mannered , the room is packed but you get get a nice seat by arriving 20 min before it started.Brian as usual is smart , funny & chatty.It lasted 40 min with a couple of questions from the audience at the end.Then he signed whatever people had to sign.

Friday, October 29, 2010

A few days ago on Oct 23 & 24 many artists including Kris Kristofferson, Elton John & Leon Russel, Elvis Costello, Billy Idol, Pearl Jam, Neil Young among many others performed at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California for the 24th Annual Bridge School Benefit.Two things were memorable:1) It was Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary. Pearl Jam -- then billed as Mookie Blaylock (named for a former professional basketball player) -- played its first gig on Oct. 22, 1990 at the Seattle club Off Ramp.2) Buffalo Springfield performed for the first time in over 40 years with original members Neil Young, Stephen Stills & Richie Furay with Joe Vitale and Rick Rosas sitting in for the late Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer

Oct 24 Set List: Daughter, Down, Driftin’, Other Side (1st time played live), The End (w/ strings), Walk With Me w/Neil Young (Neil Young), Lukin (w/strings), Just Breathe (w/strings), Black (w/strings), Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (w/strings) [setlists from Pearl Jam]

Supertramp is back in Paris just ten days after playing the very same place on Oct 18 (click for review , setlist & Pics).Nothing new as they did exactly the same show, John Helliwell said the same thing at the same time.Good show , the best ovations were for Roger's songs.BUT... tonight was a special night as it was Rick Davies' 1000th gig with SupertrampFrenchies even stood up in the pit before the Encore, a fuckin' miracle.And.... just before "School" we had a song that they don't play very often " Don't you lie to me" (Here on video) which is a cover.Even Rick said a few words which is a PremiereGood gig overallMaybe their last show in a long time as it was the last show of the Tour.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Damned are also cancelling their Paris' gig @ Trabendo tonight Oct 28,Official statement: "Dave Vanian has just informed us that his back condition hasn't improved sufficiently to enable him to travel or perform shows this weekend. Regrettably, that means that we have to cancel the following performances: October 28 Paris, France - Le Trabendo October 29 Dusseldorf, Germany - Zakk October 30 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Den Atelier October 31 Hasselt, Belgium - Sinner's Day Festival"

Jimmy Crespo the former guitar player for the album Rock in a hard place by our fave bostonians AEROSMITH has a new project.Here's a video from his first show with a great instrumental version of Aerosmith's "Joanie's Butterly".The version on the record has lyrics but the original version should have been an instrumental, that's how it was upposed to be...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dont be late when you go to a gig @ La Cité de la Musique or the Salle Pleyel ( same owner), if it's written 8:00PM on your ticket, show starts at 8:00PM sharp.First we have Anna Calvi with a drummer and a girl on some instrument (don't know the name) for some rock'n roll with spanish influences.Nice starter.

9:00PM It's time for Grinderman feat. Nick Cave , W. Ellis, M. Casey, J. Sclavunos to storm the stage in front of a full house.Grinderman is a side-project which is getting more interesting than The Bad Seeds.Last time Nick Cave played in Paris at the Casino de Paris it was disappointing, there was something lacking and we didn't go last year to his show @ Theatre Marigny.

After seeing Grinderman tonight we now know what was lacking: Madness & fury.Nick Cave is wild again on stage and so is the music, same can be said about Warren.This is what I call : A Rock 'n Roll show. Always on the edge.Funny to see Nick's kids by the side of the stage getting as crazy as their father.Impressive 90 min+ set